jboogs40

I am traveling from Ramstein by train for 4 days in late november, can you recommend a base location? I would like to include a Christmas market, Basel opens that weekend. I would also like to see the alps, natural areas, smaller towns.

neckervd

All depends on your interests. There are plenty of Christmas markets between Landstuhl and Basel too. The most famous Swiss Christmas market is at Montreux.
The Zibelemaerit (onions market) at Berne is very popular too. It begins Monday November 27th at 4am (!).
http://www.bern.com/en/city-of-bern/...s/onion-market
But it's not properly a Christmas market.

suze

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/e...203090819.html
Montreux's

PalenQ

Lucerne would be a good base -not high up so not very cold and close enough to day trip to say Mt Titlis and your dreams of seeing the Alps at their most awesome.

Trains are great - look at a Swiss Pass or Swiss Transfer Ticket or Half-Fare Card- for lots of good stuff on Swiss trains: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Lucerne is a lovely city on a lovely lake- only a short train ride from Basel, Zurich, Bern - cities possibly with Xmas markets.

PalenQ

jboogs40 - what ya think?

jboogs40

PalenQ, Thanks, sorry for not replying, I have been traveling. I hadn't looked at Lucerne, only Interlaken but this looks like a better option!

UALAN

Well, jboogs! here you have shared such a really nice name of its city which name is Lucerne. I had visited there when I had visited in Switzerland. I love its winter season and try to this winter again for enjoyments.

PalenQ

I hadn't looked at Lucerne, only Interlaken but this looks like a better option!>

Yes if it's for the high Alps but you could easily do Lucerne for a day en route to or from Germany by train - a lovely city on a lovely lake - even if for just a few hours - the train from Interlaken-Ost station to Lucerne is part of the fabled Golden Pass train route- a very scenic ride up and over the Brunig Pass.

Lucerne is just a short train ride from Zurich which has direct ICE trains to Stuttgart, Germany.

UALAN

Wow, right suggestion you have shared here with all of the travelling freaks, I have also heard about it from my dad, according to him The ICE (Inter City Express) is a high-speed train that connects all major cities in Germany which is really usable for visitors and its also local people.

Cool Idea.

PalenQ

and ICE trains need no seat reservation (optional however) so with a ticket you can just board and fine a seat -plenty from Zurich probably because the train starts there. Go to www.bahn.de/en to nab tickets as cheap as 29 euros if you book far enough in advance to get those limited in number discounted ducats.

PalenQ

I think 4 days in Interlaken area is too much unless into winter sports- hiking is difficult without snow gear.

I'd still suggest doing a few days there and a few days in a regular city like Lucerne or Bern, to me one of Europe's most underrated cities. Can do each as a day trip from Interlaken on days when the weather up in dem hills is foul - not uncommon.

PalenQ

You could easily go via Basel to Interlaken and put your bags in a station locker and spend a few hours in the really nice town center with the Christmas Market -I would expect Interlaken has one too but probably not a major one - nearby Bern surely must however.

simpsonc510

Zurich has a lovely Christmas Market at the hauptbahnhoff, as well as stands along the Bahnhofstrasse and neighboring streets. The market in Lucerne is in the train station...a smaller one, to be sure, but still nice.

I would base in Lucerne and take the day trips from there to visit Interlaken and Berne. IMO Lucerne has more to do for a few days than does Interlaken as a base.

Sue81

Ranstein is no too far from Wurtzburg, Germany. the Wurtzburg Palace is interesting to see. Also about 45 minutes from Wurtzburg by car is Rothenburg ober Tauber, which is lovely in Winter, small village, cobblestone streets, very old, great Xmas store, Kathie Wolfharts. Charming place, great pasty shops, Worth a trip. I was on a military bus in middle of night between Wurtzburg and Ramstein so have no idea of the distance, sleeping off and on. Sue

PalenQ

Why Switzerland at such a lousy weather time? Just curious.

Anyway - go to Interlaken for at least a day and take the Jungfrauhoch train to Europe's highest train station and an Alpine Wonderland if you want to see the Alps at their best.

But I agree Lucerne would be a better base at that time of year - Bern again is a great city to day trip to from either a Lucerne or Interlaken base.

spaarne

<i>4 days in switzerland
Posted by: jboogs40 on Oct 7, 16 at 7:16am
I am traveling from Ramstein by train for 4 days in late november, can you recommend a base location?</i>

Geneva.

PalenQ

Geneva is nice for a large city but many prefer much more smaller Montreux or Vevey, also on Lake Geneva with its surfeit of things to see and do in a compact area. I supposed Geneva has a class 1 Xmas Market?